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In a festive celebration tinged with only a trace of sentimentality, Captain Belinda Bennett, who has served on the helm of Wind Spirit all through its most up-to-date year-round sequence of seasons in French Polynesia (the ship has served the area for ten years), handed over the ceremonial French Polynesian flag to Star Breeze Captain Terry Simon on Sunday. (Captain Belinda, l-r, is pictured above with French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson, Windstar Cruises President Chris Prelog, and Star Breeze Captain Simon Terry).
“We’re additionally handing over the cellphone of the bridge,” Captain Belinda mentioned with a smile. “You’ll want it.”
This shift in ships is critical, each for the area and for Windstar. Having marked its 35th anniversary of cruising in French Polynesia final yr, “this strategic shift in ships not solely doubles capability but additionally brings new experiences given the Breeze’s a number of eating choices, enlarged spa and health heart, and spacious lodging,” Windstar Cruises President Chris Prelog tells us in his remarks. “Vacationers aboard Star Breeze nonetheless navigate Tahiti’s out-of-the-way harbors, hidden lagoons, and pristine seashores in Windstar’s signature, small ship fashion.”
In honor of the event, a festive welcome for Star Breeze accompanied the equally festive goodbye for Wind Spirit with a cultural honest, held on the dock between the 2 vessels. Visitors from each ships mingled with Tahitians, together with President Moetai Brotherson, port officers, and Tahiti Tourism companions.
Celebration Commemorates Windstar’s Embrace of Polynesian Tradition
To make sure, right now’s festival-of-culture, a vibrant ship off to each ships – Wind Spirit heads to Costa Rica whereas Star Breeze begins an 11-night French Polynesian odyssey – was a splashier sail-away than most. There was native delicacies and fruity drinks, dancing and singing, and instrumental music carried out by native teams.
A mom/daughter crew taught us to weave baskets and platters out of hearty palm fronds whereas close by, their grandson/son Chef Temauri, oversaw the hors d’oeuvres. In a forward-fashion second, glamorous younger girls walked down a pink carpet to showcase not solely their clothes but additionally to indicate how pearl necklaces, created by jewellery designer Robert Wan, could possibly be used to dramatically intensify their robes. The truth is, a crowd favourite was the lone gentleman who wore a pearl necktie – towards his naked chest.
What’s intriguing about this area is that for all the eye it will get for its seashores, corals, calm bays, and plush interiors, it’s its tradition and artwork that connects vacationers to the guts of French Polynesia
One other in style exercise: Comptoir des Manoi, a Tahitian skincare firm that produces oils and perfumes from native natural world, was on-hand to create customized oil blends created out of 30 totally different scents. Decisions included ylang ylang, mira (Tahitian basil), mango, honey, rea Tahiti (Tahitian ginger) and plenty of extra.
It’s considerably fortuitous,” Star Breeze Captain Simon Terry tells us, that Star Breeze is taking on “from a ship known as Spirit. This culturally important area is all about vitality, artwork and dancing.”
Future seems to be vibrant for Windstar in French Polynesia
Certainly, adjustments are afoot within the expertise of French Polynesia aboard Star Breeze. The competition mirrored Windstar’s new effort (extra to come back!) to carry French Polynesian tradition onboard, in addition to its present program of onshore occasions and actions.
And maybe the candy sentiment that Captain Belinda alluded to about leaving French Polynesia with Wind Spirit could also be alleviated by a remark made by Windstar’s Prelog on the finish of his remarks. “I’ve this dream,” he instructed assembled friends, “that sometime we’re going to have two ships in Tahiti, so I’m not going to say goodbye. I’m going to say — till we meet once more. I do know with the help of all our native mates, and our friends, I feel we will make that dream a actuality.”
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